I looked at the door slowly, and found Xavier and Tione, both laughing at me. Xavier approached, and handed me a mug of coffee, offering the other to Alex. "Sorry, I couldn't miss it. They're adorable." He grinned, and set one of the kittens, a small black cat, next to Dotty on Alex's shoulder.

The older cat simply stared at the smaller one, her tail swishing dangerously. Her paw darted out, and whacked the kitten soundly on the nose, bouncing him down into Alex's cleavage.

Xavier walked away, chuckling, and I sighed, fixing my coffee, then sipping the strong brew.

Alex slowly recovered, and pet the small kitten, moving him onto her lap. He meowed imperiously, and climbed back, curling up.

She left him, sighing, and then sipped the coffee that Xavier had handed her.

We sat in a companionable silence, broken only by the cat's sounds, and when I finished my second cup, I sighed. "Well... procrastinating never made anything happen... you stay here, the cats need someone to watch them." I stood slowly, depositing each cat, one by one, on her lap.

The kittens curled around each other sleepily, and she gasped, petting them gently. "O...Kay..." she said quietly.

I nodded. "What's your bosses name? Where can I find him?"

She shivered a little. "It's Richard... and he lives in Shackletown..."

"Shackletown?" I asked.

"Where I was working yesterday." She said quietly.

I nodded. "Got it. A description? Human, Dwarf, blonde?"

"Human, Blonde... but you won't get near him without me. No one is allowed in his Club without at invitation." She shook her head.

I hummed. "You're sure? It's going to get hairy real quick. I've got a short temper when it comes to people like that."

She nodded, standing up slowly. The cats reacted indignantly, but settled back down on my bed, cuddling together or claiming spots as they wished.

I tucked my puzzle book in my pocket, then settled my sword onto my belt. "Alright, then." I hummed, and looked down, then covered my eyes. "But you need pants and shoes."

She pulled the shirt down even further, only making the situation worse, as she exposed more cleavage, and I reached for some pants from my trunk, tossing them to her, along with a pair of socks and boots.

She dressed quickly, and I sighed. "Well I'm glad that's done. If you're coming with me, there's a few simple rules. Okay?" I asked.

She nodded slowly. "Like?"

"First: if and when a fight breaks out, you simply stay where you are. Don't run, don't hide, don't do . If I know where you are, I can protect you, or drive the fight away from you." I stated firmly.

She nodded again. "Okay."

"Second: should someone take you hostage, or put a knife to your throat, . Anyone who wants to actually hurt you won't do that, so if they hold you, you're relatively safe." I continued logically.

She blinked. "Really?"

"Really. If they wanted to hurt you, they would. Third: if I start swinging my sword around, and spewing verbal garbage, don't pay attention. I'm not a nice person when I'm angry, and I don't want that to be your impression of me. Also, I don't really get angry that easily, so you don't ever have to worry about that." I shrugged.

She smiled a little. "I see."

"Alright, and Fourth Rule: stay calm at all times. You're not going to get killed, not with me around. So stay calm. That's all." I smiled.

She blinked. "You're smiling, right? It's kinda hard to tell."

I hummed. "Well... yes, I was... is it really that hard to tell? People say I have a mean face, but I didn't really believe them..."

She smiled sweetly. "It's okay. I can see that you're trying to be nice."

I huffed. "Well, I suppose I'll take what I can get... Oi! Xavier! You're running back end, eh?" I called out.

He stepped out of the bathroom, steaming, and shrugged. "Sure thing, old man."

"Oh! He your son!" Alex hummed in surprise, staring at Xavier's solid shoulders.

I chuckled. "Indeed. I'm glad you noticed. Let's go." I pulled on my jacket, and then pulled a kitten out of one of the pockets, depositing it on Dotty's stomach.

She glared at me, and whacked the kitten gently, sending it tumbling into the other kittens.

I smirked and walked out of the room, finding my way to the kitchen. I stole a large loaf of bread, a wedge of cheese, and a large sack of what smelled like wine, then handed it to Alex. "Eat what you want. I'll eat the rest."

She juggled them quickly, and started mowing down, eating all of the cheese, and then nearly destroying a quarter of the bread.

I chuckled. "You still hungry?"

She blushed a bit, and I nodded, taking the bread and wine, and setting it on a random table. "Wha- hey!" She frowned.

"You like stew? I like stew. We're eating stew." I nodded, and led her out of the castle.

We neared the Mistress of Abundance, and she balked. "I can't go in there like this!!! That's a classy joint, not a tavern any whore can waltz into!" She hissed.

I frowned at her. "That's enough outa you on that train of thought." I snapped, and pulled her into the tavern.

I plopped her down in a seat, and sat down opposite her. "Oiii! Mama Mia! You still serving that Stew?!?"

She chuckled. "Aye! Who's yer friend?"

"Ah, a friend of Tiona's, the Amazon. Nothing big. We're real hungry though!" I grinned widely.

"Ha! That wolffish grin of yours... alright, then. Oi! Ryu! Two bowls of stew to Johnny's table!" She barked.

The elf woman appeared almost instantly, and set the bowls next to us. "Hello, Sir Gyllenhaal." She bowed her head, and then looked between me and Alex. "Would... either of you like a drink?"

"I'll have... cider, today." I sighed, and looked at Alex. "You?" She squeaked at the sudden attention, and ducked, quivering. I hummed. "Coffee, for her, then. Lots of sugar."

The elf woman nodded, and disappeared. I pulled my stew towards me, pushing hers toward her gently. "Eat. Food and Coffee solve most problems."

On cue, Ryu set a mug of cider in front of me, then a mug of coffee in front of Alex gently.

I nodded my thanks, and started eating. The smell of the food reached her, and upon noticing I wasn't watching her, she began eating swiftly, as if she was afraid I was going to take it away.

I hummed and gazed at her calmly. 'When I find these sons of bitches, I'm going to curb-stomp their asses under my boots, and then geld them... I wonder if all the prostitutes in the city are this badly broken? Hmph. This place needs a overhaul...'

She finished her stew, and I switched our bowls, chewing my bread, and looking away when she looked up.

She began eating that as well, and I ordered another round, ignoring her fake protests.

After her third bowl, she stopped, and I nodded, scarfing down the fourth. "Alright. I'll go pay, and you wait outside, yes?"

"Sure..." She nodded slowly, and walked out, standing by the entrance.

I paid Mama Mia the tab, and then followed her out, only to find no one standing where she'd been.

I grumbled and sniffed the air, searching for her scent, and finding it easily. She smelled like Lavender and Kittens.

I tracked it, and found her scent in an alley, where she was struggling against a tall blonde man, whose nose was bleeding.

He raised his fist to punch her, and I interfered. .

My hand slammed into the side of his neck, displacing a piece of his spine, and I leapt after him as he stumbled away.

My sword replaced my fist, and I ruthlessly sliced the tendons in his left knee, sending him howling to the ground.

I looked at Alex. "Your Boss?"

She shook her head slowly, pulling the ripped halves of her shirt closed.

I nodded and stabbed the man through the chest, just under his left lung. Then I leaned close to him. "Once I remove this, you have eight minutes to get to a doctor, or you die. Start counting." I ripped the sword out, and he limped/crawled away swiftly.

I cleaned my sword slowly, and sheathed it, tossing my jacket to her. "Put that on, for now." I said simply, and started walking again, trying not to look at her.

She slipped it on, and buttoned it closed. "You didn't have to help me like that..." she said quietly, following me.

"No, Perhaps not. But what's done is done. I hate men like that." I shrugged.

"And if he dies?"

"Less scum on the earth." I said callously.

We walked in silence for the rest of the way to 'Shackletown', or the Red Light District.

When we reached the club, she clung to the back of my shirt suddenly. "Wait, we can't-"

"Calm down." I said simply, my deep voice soothing her swiftly. I walked forward, her under my left arm, and hiding my sword. When the guards went to stop me, I laughed carelessly. "Hey, guys. Came to join the party? Ricky told you I'd be coming, ?" I smirked.

They looked at me, then Alex, and nodded. "Sure thing, Sir... just didn't know you was bringin' Alex, is all." The left one said.

I nodded. "Yes. Open her up?" I nodded at the door.

They quickly opened the door, and I walked in, smoothly transitioning my sword forward, so when they looked at us from behind, they saw nothing.

"Where will he be?" I asked her simply.

She pointed up shakily.

On the balcony, staring down at us, was a tall, well-muscled blonde man, slipping bladed bronze knuckles onto his fists.

I nodded. "Alright. Go sit down on that couch." I pointed to a small couch, just out of my sword's range, which was empty.

Then I looked around, and raised my voice, my Bass trembling through the wooden room. ""

"Oh I've got of problems with that..." 'Richard' leapt off the balcony, landing in front of me.

I drew my sword in a single movement, then grinned savagely. ""

He darted forward, and I rolled under his fists, slicing through his right thigh muscles with my first swing.

He grunted, but stayed standing. "Damn... Otto, James!" He snapped.

The two large men from outside appeared next to him, and I tsk'ed. "" I asked.

He smirked, and I whistled sharply.

Xavier came ripping through the iron doors of the building instantly, and rammed into one of them, taking the fight to ground and knocking him out before he even realized he was on the ground.

The second one proved more of a challenge, but I walked past their fights and stared down the boss. "" I sprinted forward, and leapt over him this time, tagging his left shoulder deeply.

He growled and swung at me with his uninjured leg, surprising me. I slammed into the wall, and his right fist, (and it's accompanying weapon,) slammed into my chest.

I tsk'ed at my carelessness, and kicked him with all I had, directly in the chin.

He dropped like a sack of potatoes, and I pulled his blades out of my chest, just as the fight between Xavier and his opponent started to draw to a close.

Xavier floored his opponent with a jumping knee to the teeth when he looked over at his boss, worried.

I looked at the rest of the people in the room. "" I shouted, and they started streaming out of the exits.

I slapped the boss awake, as Xavier healed him, and grinned, sitting on his chest. I looked around, and nodded. ""

He nodded shakily. "I got it! I got it, okay, just-just don't kill me!"

"" I grinned.

Alex looked annoyed, and I winked at her. "" I chuckled.

She raised an eyebrow, and I grinned even wider, looking down at Richard. ""